Blood processing assembly including a prepackaged fluid circuit module

ABSTRACT

The monitor and fluid circuit assembly is used with a blood processing apparatus which is adapted for separating platelets from whole blood. The assembly is easily and simply attached to the apparatus and includes a holder, a plurality of flexible tubings held in and extending through the holder, monitor devices fixed within the holder and series coupled to various ones of the tubings and at least one tubing having a transparent wall section which is positioned adjacent an optical sensor of the apparatus. Several tubings extend in loops from the holder and are adapted for being received over and forming part of peristaltic pumps of the apparatus so that fluid can be pumped through the tubings. Other portions of some of the tubings extending from the holder are held in an umbilicus which is received through a rotatable holder in a centrifuge device of the apparatus. The plastic bag/receptacles are connected to the ends of these tubings and are adapted to be received in the centrifuge device for the centrifuging of fluids therein. Two tubings are adapted to be connected to hypodermic needles which are inserted in the arms of a donor of whole blood to be processed. The assembly of tubings and pressure monitors are made of inexpensive plastic so that the assembly can be discarded after it is used and a platelet separation bag has been detached from the assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of application Ser. No. 100,975, filed Dec. 6, 1979,which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 843,223, filed Oct. 18,1977, now abandoned.

This application is related to, and incorporates herein by reference,U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,629, issued Jan. 29, 1980 and entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR PROCESSING BLOOD and U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,172, issued Mar.27, 1979 and entitled CENTRIFUGAL LIQUID PROCESSING SYSTEM.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a monitor and fluid circuit assemblyutilized in an apparatus for processing whole blood and morespecifically to a compact disposable monitor and fluid circuit assemblyfor collecting a desired blood component such as platelets.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore various apparatus have been proposed for processing wholeblood and separating the same into the various components thereof. Suchprior art apparatus have involved intervivos blood processing in whichwhole blood is taken from a live donor, separated within a processingsystem into its constituent components and a desired component issegregated for collection from the donor, followed by returning theremaining blood fluid to the donor. Typically, the blood components thatare separated are plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells andplatelets. An apparatus and process which are particularly adapted forseparating platelets from whole blood are described hereinafter. Such aprocess is commonly referred to as plateletpheresis.

Apparatus for carrying out intervivos blood processing that have beenutilized in the past, have typically included a separation chamberwithin which whole blood from a donor is subjected to a centrifugalforce. This is typically accomplished in a centrifuge device. Because ofdifferences in densities the various blood components will congregate indifferent zones at different radial distances from the center ofrotation of the separation chamber. Then, collection ports in thechamber are utilized to remove the blood components from the variouszones in the separation chamber for storage or recirculation.

Heretofore such devices have required various fluid couplings andpressure monitor devices which must be thoroughly cleaned after each useand/or parts of the fluid system or circuit must be replaced.

As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the presentinvention provides a monitor and fluid circuit assembly which can beeasily mounted on and connected to a blood processing apparatus andeasily detached therefrom for separation of a blood component collectionbag, e.g., a platelet bag. Also the assembly is made of inexpensiveplastic materials such that the assembly minus the collection bag can bediscarded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a monitor and fluidcircuit assembly for use with a blood processing apparatus, saidassembly including a holder, at least first and second flexible tubingsheld in place within and passing through said holder, at least first andsecond monitor devices fixed within said holder, each device beingcoupled to one of said tubings and at least first and second receptaclesexterior of said holder, each receptacle being coupled to one of saidtubings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with which the monitor andfluid circuit assembly of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper portion of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the monitor and fluid circuit assembly ofthe present invention removed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block flow diagram of the fluid circuit of theassembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the monitor and fluid circuit assemblyof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the monitor devicesof the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, a blood processingapparatus is shown in, and generally identified by the reference numeral10 in, FIG. 1. The apparatus 10 includes the monitor and fluid circuitassembly of the present invention which is fully shown in, andidentified by reference numeral 11 in, FIG. 4. The apparatus 10 furtherincludes a centrifuge device hidden from view within the cabinet 12. Thecentrifuge device is shown schematically in FIG. 3 and identifiedtherein by reference numeral 14. For further details of the constructionand operation of the centrifuge device 14, reference is made to U.S.Pat. No. 4,146,172, entitled: CENTRIFUGAL LIQUID PROCESSING SYSTEM, thedisclosure of which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

The monitor and fluid circuit assembly 11 includes a fluid circuit whichis generally identified by the reference numeral 16 in FIG. 1 and whichis best shown schematically in FIG. 3. As will be described in detail inconnection with the description of FIGS. 3 and 4, the fluid circuit 16includes a plurality of flexible plastic tubings which form fluidcouplings between various parts of the fluid circuit 16. These tubingsare received through a holder 18 which forms part of assembly 11 andwhich has monitor devices mounted therein.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, several loops of the tubing (54,74,102 inFIGS. 3 and 4) are received over, in tight contact with, a form part oftwo peristaltic pumps 20 and 22. As will be described in greater detailhereinafter, the pump 20 is referred to as a first or whole blood pumpand the pump 22 is referred to as a second or plasma pump. The wholeblood pump 20 is utilized for withdrawing whole blood from a donorwhereas the plasma pump 22 is utilized to move plasma from once chamberto another chamber within the centrifuge device 14 (FIG. 3).

The apparatus 10 also includes a display panel 24 including severalwindows for indicating information useful to an operator. In thisrespect, an alarm window 26 indicates a malfunction of the apparatus 10or a condition occurring within the fluid circuit 16 of the apparatus10. Also there is a window 28 indicating the blood component which isbeing collected, a window 30 indicating volume processed and end pointand a window 32 indicating the elapsed time of operation of theapparatus 10, the flow rate of the whole blood and the flow rate ofplatelet rich plasma.

A number of push buttons 41-47 are provided for controlling variousphases of operation of the apparatus 10, as well as windows 48 and 49 onthe display panel 24 for indicating the hematocrit of the donor.

Additionally, the apparatus 10 includes a manual control panel 50 which,as best shown in FIG. 2, includes a plurality of knobs and switches formanual operation of the apparatus 10. The legends on the manual controlpanel 50 generally identify the various toggle switches and push buttonswitches, the purpose of which will become apparent from the detaileddescription of the operation of the apparatus 10 set forth below.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is illustrated therein a block schematicdiagram of the fluid circuit 16. As shown, the circuit 16 includes afirst fluid coupling or tubing 54 adapted to be coupled to a vein in onearm of a donor 52 by means of a hypodermic needle 56 which is injectedinto the arm. If desired a fluid clamp 58 (shown schematically) can beprovided on the tubing 54. The first tubing 54 has associated therewitha solenoid operated clamp 60 forming valve #1. The tubing 54 then hasseries coupled thereto an occluded vein monitor device 62 with anassociated sensor 63. Then, the first tubing 54 extends over and formspart of the peristaltic pump 20 and is series coupled to a high pressuremonitor device 64 with an associated sensor 65. From the monitor device64 the first tubing 54 extends into the centrifuge device 14 and to thebottom inlet of a first compartment or receptacle 66 which is identifiedas a whole blood bag and which defines therein a whole blood separationchamber.

The receptacle 66 has a first outlet 68 at the center thereof adjacent azone in the receptacle 66 where platelet rich plasma congregates.Receptacle 66 also has two outlets 70 and 72 at the upper cornersthereof where red blood cells congregate. Outlet 68 provides not only anoutlet for platelet rich plasma but also a return inlet for plateletrich plasma which is "contaminated" (mixed) with red blood cells whenthere is a spillover of red blood cells out of outlet 68.

The outlet 68 of the first receptacle 66 is coupled to a second fluidcoupling or tubing 74 which extends to a loop 75 thereof locatedexterior of the centrifuge device 14 and which loop extends about andforms part of the peristaltic pump 22. Also, positioned adjacent atransparent or translucent section of the loop 75 which extends out ofthe centrifuge device 14 is a spill detector device 76 which is anoptical sensor for sensing a spillover of red blood cells mixed withplatelet rich plasma. The device 76 includes a light omitting diode(LED) such as an infra red LED sold by Texas Instrument under type numerTIL 32 and a phototransistor, such as a phototransistor sold by TexasInstrument under type number TIL 81. The second tubing 74 then goes backinto the centrifuge device 14 and is coupled to an inlet 78 of a secondcompartment or receptacle 80 which is identified as a platelet bagdefining a chamber therein where platelets are separated from plasma.

A third fluid coupling or tubing 82 is connected to the outlet 70 and 72of the first receptacle 66 and to the donor through a high/low pressuremonitor device 84 with associated sensor 85 and an air bubbletrap/filter 86 and associated air bubble sensor 87 which monitor device84 and filter 86 are coupled in series in the third tubing 82. Alsoanother solenoid clamp 88 is associated with a portion 89 of the tubing82 coming out of the air bubble trap/filter 86 and forms valve #3. Thesensor 87 can be optical or ultrasonic.

The end of third tubing 82 is connected to a hypodermic needle 90 forinjection into the other arm of the donor and, if desired, a fluid clamp92 (shown schematically) can be provided in tubing 82 ahead of theneedle 90.

The fluid circuit 16 further includes a fourth fluid coupling or tubing94 which is coupled with an outlet 96 of the second receptacle 80 andjoins a fifth fluid coupling or tubing 127 in which a solenoid operatedclamp 98 forming valve #6 is located and which forms a junction 99 withthe third tubing 82.

The fluid circuit 16 also includes a first container 100 ofanti-coagulant such as Acid Citrose Dextrose (ACD) which is coupled by afirst auxiliary fluid coupling or tubing 102 about (and forming part of)the peristaltic pump 20 and through a solenoid operated clamp 104defining valve #2 to a junction 105 with the first tubing 54 between theneedle 56 and valve #1.

With this arrangement of the first tubing 54 and the first auxiliarytubing 102 passing over the same peristaltic pump 20, the mixing ofanti-coagulant with whole blood and the withdrawing of whole blood fromthe donor is achieved essentially simultaneously. Also, the ratio of thecross sectional area of the interior of the tubing 54 to the crosssectional area of the interior of the tubing 102 is chosen to obtain adesired mixture of anti-coagulant to whole blood. This ratio ispreferably 8 to 1 thereby to obtain an 8 to 1 ratio of whole blood toanti-coagulant.

The apparatus 10 and fluid circuit 16 further include a second container108 of saline solution which is connected by means of a second auxiliarycoupling or tubing 110 through a drip chamber 112 and a solenoidoperated clamp 114 defining valve #4 to the first tubing 54 at ajunction 115 between solenoid operated clamp 60 and the occluded veinmonitor device 62. The container 108 of saline solution is also coupledby means of a third auxiliary fluid coupling or tubing 118 through asolenoid clamp 120 forming valve #5 to the top of the air bubbletrap/filter 86.

The apparatus 10 and the fluid/circuit 16 thereof further include athird receptacle or compartment 124 located outside of the centrifugedevice 14 for collecting plasma. This receptacle 124 is coupled

to the fourth tubing 94 at junction 129

by branch coupling or tubing 126 through a solenoid operated clamp 128forming solenoid valve #7.

The operation of the apparatus 10 for processing whole blood through thefluid circuit 16 will now be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3.

First of all, a donor is chosen who will be a healthy person donatingplatelets and who will be treated much like a blood donor. When theapparatus 10 is ready, two venipunctures will be made, one in each arm,with needles 56 and 90.

Valve #1 is opened first to allow saline to purge the input needle 56prior to injection in the donor. Then valves #1, #2, #5 and #7 areclosed. Valves #3, #4 and #6 are open.

Then, saline is pumped by the first pump 20 through the fluid circuit 16until no more air bubbles are sensed by the air bubble sensor 87, i.e.,until saline is sensed. Next, the second pump 22 is started and salineis pumped through the platelet receptacle 80. Since the centrifugedevice 14 is not running at this time, the receptacles 66 and 80 are notfilled to capacity. Air is expelled through the needle 90.

After a short time, e.g., one to five minutes the plateletreceptacle/bag 80 will be filled, all air expelled and saline fills theentire system, i.e., fluid circuit 16 up to valve #3. When saline issensed by detector 87, valve #3 is closed and valve #5 is opened. Aftera period of recirculation of saline, pumps 20 and 22 are stopped andvalve #3 is opened.

Parenthetically, during this priming operation, the air bubble sensor 87is checked when air bubbles are flowing through the air bubbletrap/filter 86 to make sure that sensor 87 is working properly and thenlater, sensor 87 is checked to make sure there are no more bubbles afterthe system is filled with saline.

Now the needles 56 and 90 are inserted into the arms of the donor 52 andvalves #1, #2, #5 and #6 are open and valves #3 and #7 are closed.

With the needles 56 and 90 connected to the veins of a donor and thesystem full of saline, the pumps 20 and 22 are started and whole bloodis pumped into the system and into the centrifuge device 14.

It will be noted that the tubings 54, 74, 82 and 94 extending into thecentrifuge device 14 may be combined in an umbilicus (139 in FIG. 4)which is rotated at a speed 1/2 the speed of the centrifuge device 14 sothat twisting is avoided and no fluid seals are required. Thisarrangement and operation of the centrifuge device 14 is more fullydescribed in the potent entitled: CENTRIFUGAL LIQUID PROCESSING SYSTEMreferred to above.

When approximately 120 milliliters of whole blood has been pumped intothe fluid circuit 16, most of the saline solution will have been pumpedback into the container 108. Valve #3 is now opened so that processedblood fluid mixed with some saline solution can now be returned to thedonor.

Also, if the plasma collect button had been pushed, valve #6 is closedand valve #7 opened and a desired amount of plasma will be collectedwhile whole blood is being processed through the fluid circuit 16 afterwhich valve #7 is closed and valve #6 is opened.

After starting pumps 20 and 22 no further operator attention is requireduntil the end of the run.

As the whole blood is being drawn into the fluid circuit 16 and into theseparation chamber in the receptacle 66, the centrifugal force acting onthe receptacle 66 causes separation of the components of the wholeblood. In this respect, platelet rich plasma congregates in a zone atthe top of the receptacle 66 adjacent to outlet 68 and red blood cellscongregate at the upper corners of the receptacle 66 adjacent outlets 70and 72. This is achieved by the particular construction and orientationof the receptacle 66 which is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No.4,146,172 referred to above.

In one working example of the apparatus 10, the volumetric displacementof pump 20 is started at an initial speed and increased by 1 milliliterper minute after each 120 milliliters of whole blood, has been processedthrough the fluid circuit 16 without a spillover of red blood cells.However, when a spillover of red blood cells from the receptacle 66 issensed by the spill detector device 76, pump 22 is stopped and thenreversed to return the mixture of platelet rich plasma and red bloodcells to receptacle 66. Then the speed of the first pump 20 is decreasedby one milliliter per minute and the speed of pump 22 is changedproportionately. Both pumps are then run in the normal direction(forward) until another 120 milliliters of whole blood is processedwithout a spillover. If a spillover is not detected by the device 76,the speed of the second pump 22 is then increased by 0.25 millilitersper minute for each 120 millilieters of blood processed without aspillover until a spillover is detected. Then when a spillover isdetected, the pump 22 is again stopped and reversed to return thespillover mixture to receptacle 66. Next the volumetric displacement ofthe second pump 22 is decreased by 0.25 milliliters per minute, the pump22 speed reversed back to forward speed and this process repeated untilthe end point of the run is reached. By the end point is meant that theprocessing of approximately 3 liters of whole blood has been completed.Operated in this manner, the apparatus 10 provides a highly efficientand effective separation of platelet rich plasma from whole blood.

Platelet rich plasma which is withdrawn from the receptacle 56 is passedthrough the platelet receptacle or bag 80. In view of the centrifugalforce acting on the bag 80, platelet sedimentation on the side of thebag 80 takes place while plasma flows through the bag 80. This flow isenhanced by pinching the bag 80 in the center thereof as indicated bythe wavy line 130 in FIG. 3. This results in a flow of plasma throughthe bag or receptacle 80 in the manner indicated by the arrows shown inFIG. 3.

The plasma that exits from the bag 80 flows through the tubing 94 andrecombines at the junction 99 with the red blood cell rich blood fluidflowing through the tubing 82. The recombined platelet poor blood isthen passed through the high/low pressure monitor 84 and air bubbletrap/filter 86 and back into the donor 52 through the needle 90.

Once a desired amount of whole blood, i.e., 3 liters of whole blood, hasbeen processed, valves #1 and #2 are closed and valve #4 is opened toallow saline to flow into the system, i.e., fluid circuit 16. The salinewill then purge the remaining amount of blood in the fluid circuit 16and push it back into the donor. Then after a sufficient amount ofsaline has been pumped into the system the centrifuge device 14 isstopped. About 3 milliliters of blood fluid is left in the system andcan be returned to the donor by allowing a short overrun of the pump 20.The cabinet 12 now can be opened to sever tubings 74 and 94 such as witha heating element as indicated by breaks 131 and 132 shown in FIG. 3.The sealed platelet receptacle/bag 80 with a minimin of plasma thereinis taken out of the centrifuge device 14 and stored for use.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated therein the monitor andfluid circuit assembly 11 of the present invention. As shown thisassembly 11 includes the holder 18 through which all tubings excepttubing 110 are received and held. As shown first and first auxiliarytubings 54 and 102 extend into the bottom of the holder 118 and out thetop thereof to form loops which are juxtaposed to each other. Theseloops extending from the top of the holder 18 of the tubings 54 and 102are received over, and form part of the peristaltic pump 20. In asimilar manner the second extends into the bottom of the holder 18 andout the top of the holder 18 to form the loop 75 and then passes back tothe holder 18. This loop 75 is received over, and forms part of, thesecond pump 22. The valves #1-#7 are schematically shown by blocks. Itwill be understood that these valves #1-#7 are actually solenoidoperated clamps as described above.

The pressure monitor devices 62, 64 and 84 are identical and only onewill be described in connection with the breakaway view of one deviceshown in FIG. 5. As shown the device 62, 64 and 84 includes a flowthrough chamber 133 series connected in the associated tubing 54 or 84and an air filled closed chamber 134 having a flexible diaphram 135forming part of one wall of the flow through chamber and an outer wall136 which is situated adjacent the associated sensor 63, 65 or 85 whichare pressure transducers and which sense changes in pressure on theouter wall 136. The monitor devices 63, 65 or 85 and air bubbletrap/filter 86 are all mounted in holder 18 in the positions shown inFIG. 4. Also each of the monitor devices 62, 64 and 84 has a hollowcylindrical protuberance extending therefrom for fitting about the sideof a mating solid cylindrical pressure sensor 63, 65 or 85 which areshown in FIG. 2 where the holder 18 has been removed and not shown inFIG. 4 which only shows the assembly 11. Also, the transparent sectionof tubing 75 which is generally identified by reference numeral 137 inFIG. 4 will be positioned adjacent sensor 76 and the transparent sectionof the air bubble trap/filter 86 will be positioned adjacent the sensor87 when the holder 18 is positioned on the upper portion of theapparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2 and the clamps 19 are moved to secureholder 18 in place. Note also that a sensor 138 (FIG. 2) of theapparatus 10 will sense when the holder 18 is in place.

The first, second, third, and fourth tubings 64, 74, 82 and 94 comingout of the holder 18 are passed through an umbilicus 139 which isreceived in a rotating holder of the centrifuge device 14 as describedabove.

The first and second containers 100 and 108 can form part of theassembly 18 and be secured to the tubings 102, 110 and 118 as shown orthe assembly can merely include injection type coupling devices at theouter end of each of the tubings 102, 110 and 118 adapted for connectionto one of the containers 100 and 108. Such a coupling device is showninjected through a membrane at the mouth of the caontainer 108 and isgenerally identified by the reference numeral 140. Also these containersare typically made of a flexible, disposable, plastic material.

It will be understood that the holder 18 is made of an inexpensive anddisposable material, e.g., plastic as are the tubings and thereceptacles 66, 80 and 124. Likewise the monitor devices 62, 64 and 84are made of an inexpensive plastic material so they can be readilydisposed of once the assembly 11 has been utilized in the processing ofwhole blood to collect platelets and the platelet receptacle or bag 80has been removed.

It will be understood that, excluding the holder 18, the assembly 11constitutes the entire fluid circuit 16 of the apparatus 10. Also, withthe arrangement of the monitor devices 62, 64 and 84 in the holder 18,as well as the positioning of the light transmitting tubing segment 137and a light transmitting portion of a wall of the air bubble trap/filter86 in the holder 18 as shown, a simple and compact monitor and fluidcircuit assembly is provided which can be easily mounted in place bymanipulation of the pivotal clamps 19 with the loops of the tubings 54,75 and 102 received over, and forming part of, the peristaltic pump 20and 22 and with the receptacles 66 and 80 inserted in the rotor of thecentrifuge device 14 of the apparatus 10. Then when the processing of apredetermined amount of whole blood, e.g., 3 liters of whole blood, iscompleted the whole assembly 11 can be removed from the apparatus 10 andthe tubings 94 and 74 above the receptacle 80 can be severed and sealedsuch as with a heating element at breaks 131 and 132 so that theplatelet receptacle 80 can be removed from the assembly 11 and storedfor future use.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the monitor andfluid circuit assembly 11 of the present invention has a number ofadvantages some of which have been described above and others of whichare inherent in the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the inventionis only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.

I claim:
 1. A blood processing assembly comprisingan apparatus includingat least two pump rotors and a centrifuge device, and a prepackaged,self-contained fluid circuit module including flexible first conduitmeans having an inlet end adapted for communication with the circulatorysystem of a patient-donor and a spaced outlet end, said first conduitmeans defining a fluid pathway for whole blood withdrawn from thepatient-donor, a first fluid receiving receptacle attached to saidoutlet end of said first conduit means and adapted for mounting in saidcentrifuge device, said first fluid receiving receptacle including zonesfor the collection of platelet-rich plasma and red blood cells inresponse to operation of said centrifuge device, flexible second conduitmeans having an inlet end attached to and communicating with said firstfluid receiving receptacle at said zone for the collection ofplatelet-rich plasma and a spaced outlet end, said second conduit meansdefining a fluid pathway for the platelet-rich plasma, a second fluidreceiving receptacle attached to said outlet end of said second conduitmeans and adapted for mounting in said centrifuge device, said secondfluid receiving receptacle including a zone for the collection of plasmain response to operation of said centrifuge device, and housing meanshaving sidewalls peripherally defining a hollow interior and includingmeans on said sidewalls for supporting each of said conduit meansintermediate said inlet and outlet ends thereof within the confines ofsaid hollow interior with a portion of each of said conduit meanssupported in a predetermined arcuate configuration outwardly bowed fromone of said sidewalls and being resiliently biased toward an uprightposition generally perpendicular to said one side wall with saidoutwardly bowed portions of said first and second conduit means beingpositioned in a spaced, noncontiguous relationship along said onesidewall to accommodate separate operative contact with said pumprotors, and means for removably mounting said fluid circuit assembly onsaid apparatus with said one sidewall disposed adjacent to said pumprotors to enable operative contact of said outwardly bowed portion ofsaid first conduit means with one of said pump rotors and one saidoutwardly bowed portion of said second conduit means with the other oneof said pump rotors.
 2. A blood processing assembly according to claim 1wherein said fluid circuit module further includesflexible firstauxiliary conduit means having an inlet end adapted for communicationwith a source of fluid and an outlet end communicating with one of saidfirst and second conduit means, and wherein said conduit support meansis further operative for supporting a portion of said first auxiliaryconduit means within the confines of said hollow interior and forsupporting another portion of said first auxiliary conduit means in apredetermined arcuate configuration outwardly bowed from said onesidewall and resiliently biased toward an upright position generallyperpendicular to said one sidewall and concentrically positionedadjacent to said outwardly bowed portion of said first conduit means toaccommodate simultaneous operative contact with said one pump rotor. 3.A blood processing assembly according to claim 2wherein said firstauxiliary conduit means and said first conduit means are joined in flowcommunication with each other, said junction being located upstream ofsaid outwardly bowed portion of said first conduit means and downstreamof said outwardly bowed portion of said first auxiliary conduit means.4. A blood processing assembly according to claim 3and further includinga first sealed container of fluid, wherein said inlet end of said firstauxiliary conduit means is integrally joined in flow communication withsaid first sealed container outwardly of said hollow interior, andwherein said first sealed container comprises the source of fluid forsaid first auxiliary conduit means and forms an integral part of saidmodule.
 5. A blood processing assembly according to claim 4wherein saidfirst sealed container comprises a sealed container of sterileanticoagulant.
 6. A blood processing assembly according to claim 1andfurther including flexible second auxiliary conduit means defining afluid pathway adapted for communication with a source of fluid andcommunicating with said first conduit means upstream of said outwardlybowed portion thereof.
 7. A blood processing assembly according to claim6and further including a second sealed container of fluid, wherein saidsecond auxiliary conduit means includes an inlet end extending outwardlyof said hollow interior and integrally joined in flow communication withsaid second sealed container, and wherein said second sealed containercomprises the source of fluid for said second auxiliary conduit meansand forms an integral part of said module.
 8. A blood processingassembly according to claim 7wherein said second sealed container offluid comprises a sealed container of sterile saline.
 9. A bloodprocessing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fluid circuitmodule further includesflexible third conduit means having an inlet endattached to and in communication with said first fluid receivingreceptacle adjacent to said red blood cell collection zone and an outletend adapted for comunication with the circulatory system of thepatient-donor for returning the collected red blood cells thereto, andwherein said conduit support means is further operative for supporting aportion of said third conduit means intermediate said inlet and outletends thereof within the confines of said hollow interior of said housingmeans.
 10. A blood processing assembly according to claim 9 wherein saidfluid circuit module further includesa third fluid receiving receptaclefor collecting plasma, and flexible fourth conduit means having an inletend communicating with said second fluid receiving receptacle in saidplasma collection zone and an outlet end communicating with said thirdfluid receiving receptacle.
 11. A blood processing assembly according toclaim 10 wherein said fluid circuit module further includesflexiblefifth conduit means esablishing flow communication between said thirdconduit means and said fourth conduit means, and wherein said conduitsupport means is further operative for supporting a portion of saidfifth conduit means within the confines of said hollow interior adjacentto the junction between said fifth conduit means and said third conduitmeans.
 12. A blood processing assembly according to claim 11 whereinsaid portable fluid circuit module further includesa flexible sleeveenclosing a portion of said first, second, third, and fourth conduitmeans adjacent to said associated fluid receiving receptacles therebyforming an umbilicus carried outwardly of said housing means.
 13. Ablood processing assembly according to claim 12wherein said umbilicusextends outwardly from said sidewall of said housing means oppositelyspaced from said one sidewall.
 14. A blood processing assembly accordingto claim 1wherein said apparatus further includes at least one sensingmeans positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, wherein said fluidcircuit module further includes at least one monitoring device carriedby said housing means in flow communication with at least one of saidconduit means, and wherein said housing mounting means is furtheroperative for positioning said housing means on said apparatus with saidmonitoring device in operative contact with said sensing means.
 15. Ablood processing assembly according to claim 1wherein said apparatusfurther includes optical sensing means positioned adjacent to said pumprotors, wherein said fluid circuit module includes a bubble trap carriedby said housing means and joined in flow communication with one of saidconduit means, and wherein said housing mounting means is furtheroperative for positioning said housing means on said apparatus with saidoptical sensing means in operative contact with said bubble trap.
 16. Ablood processing assembly according to claim 15 wherein said fluidcircuit module further includesthird auxiliary conduit means defining afluid path having an inlet end adapted for flow communication with asource of fluid and an outlet end joined in flow communication with saidair bubble trap, and wherein said conduit support means is operative forsupporting said outlet end of said third auxiliary conduit means withinthe confines of said housing interior.
 17. A blood processing assemblyaccording to claim 16wherein said portable fluid circuit module furtherincludes a sealed container of fluid, wherein said inlet end of saidthird auxiliary conduit means is integrally joined in flow communicationwith said sealed container of fluid, and wherein said sealed containerof fluid comprises the source of fluid for said third auxiliary conduitmeans and forms an integral part of said module.
 18. A blood processingassembly according to claim 17wherein said sealed container of fluidcomprises a sealed container of sterile saline.
 19. A blood processingassembly according to claim 1wherein said apparatus includes an opticalsensor positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, wherein said secondconduit means includes a translucent portion, and wherein said housingmounting means is operative for positioning said housing means on saidapparatus with said optical sensor in operative contact with saidtranslucent portion of said second conduit means.
 20. A blood processingassembly according to claim 1wherein said apparatus includes at leastone valve means positioned adjacent to said pump rotors, and whereinsaid mounting means is operative for positioning said housing means onsaid apparatus with said valve means in operative contact with at leastone of said conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of fluidthrough said conduit means.